Duggan nets late leveller

15 July 2013 07:17

Substitute Toni Duggan's injury-time leveller gave England a lifeline in the UEFA Women's European Championship following a 1-1 draw against Russia in Linkoping, Sweden.

Duggan struck in the third minute of added time to cancel out Nelli Korovkina's first-half opener, although the Everton striker's heroics - after she had been denied by the woodwork seconds earlier - still leaves England's hopes of emerging from Group C hanging by a thread.

They have just one point from their first two matches and must beat France on Thursday and hope other results go their way if they are to have any chance of progressing.

Both sides had lost their opening match although Hope Powell's side started like a team desperate for the first win of the campaign as Rachel Yankey's lofted ball over the top found Ellen White, who could only fire over on the volley.

Russia goalkeeper Elvira Todua made a splendid save soon after to keep the scores level. With the eastern Europeans failing to clear their lines from a corner, midfielder Jill Scott held off her marker and unleashed a rasping shot, which Todua fingertipped onto the crossbar.

Russia went close themselves seconds afterwards as Korovkina, on the half-volley, curled narrowly wide from just outside the area.

England were then dealt a blow as influential midfielder Yankey was forced off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury in the 17th minute, with Karen Carney entering the fray as her replacement.

The game calmed down after a frenetic start, but England continued to remain on the front foot as they looked to give their Group C cause a shot in the arm.

However, their inability to build on their good start came back to haunt them as Russia took the lead seven minutes before half-time.

Elena Morozova's cross from the left byline looked innocuous enough, but Elena Terekhova horribly miscued her volley into the path of Korovkina, who reacted superbly to get ahead of her marker and head past England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley.